Traffic signal



Oct. 4,1927,

A J. RANK ET A1.

TRAFFIC SIGNAL Filed Oct. 2].. 1925 Patented Get. 4, 192?.

UNITED STATES JOHN RANK AND 'HENRY W. RANK, OF MINNAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

TRAFFIC SIGNAL.

Application filed October 21, 1925. Serial No. 63,994.

Our present invention relates to traflic signals of the yielding and self-arighting type, such, for example, as that disclosed and claimed in our pending application Serial No. 54,240, filed September 3, 1925, and is directed particularly to an improved form of casing. The casing constitutes the rigid portion of the yielding post and will contain the signal devicesV including the light-producing means, such as electric light bulbs or lamps. It is highly important that this rigid portion of the yielding post be at the same time light and strong. To protect such casing from great damage when y struck by a vehicle, it is provided with buffer strips or cushions applied in a novel and efficient way. The casing, 1n most instances, will be made rectangular in cross section and,

hence, the buffer strips will'be applied to thel o corners and will project so as to protect the sides of the casing.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the invention, like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows the improved post, including the casing, in elevation;

F ig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and

3 is a vertical section on the line 3 3 of Fig 2, some parts being shown in full.

The body of the casing is made up of four side plates 4 and spacing heads, of

which latter there are preferably three, to

wit: a lower spacing head 5, an upper spacing head 6, and an intermediate spacing head 7. The plates 4 are shown as rigidly but detachably secured to the said heads by nutequipped bolts 8 applied therethrough and through the flanges of said heads. At the corners of the casing, the said three heads are obliquely cut away so as to cause the edges of the plates 4 to project outward and clear thereof; and these projecting edges of said plates are increased or thickened up in cross section, so as to form dove-tail flanges 9. The plates 4 are formed with light passages for producing signals, such as the Stop 'and Go signs and traflic change signal.

The buffer strips 10 are preferably of rubber, but may be of other elastic or resilient material, such, for example, as combinations involving rubber and fabric. These strips 10 are formed with longitudinal dove-tail grooves that adapt them to be slid longitudinally onto the dove-tail edges 9 of the plates 4, one of said bulfer strips being thus applied at each of the four corners of vthe casing. Here it will also be noted that the oblique corner portions of the spacing heads 5, 6 and 7 afford clearance for the inner portions of the buffer strips and that the said buffer strips project not only obliquely at the corners but laterally far beyond the faces of the plates 4 and, hence, effectually protect the plates against damage when the signal post is struck by an automobile or other vehicle. Obviously, the casing constructed as described may be very quickly and easily assembled and will be very rigid and, at the same time, light. Also, it will be noted that the buffer strips, if damaged, may be replaced without disassembling the parts of the casing and without removing the post from working position. The friction between the interlocked portions of the plates and buffer strips will serve to securely hold the same properly assembled, but, of course, if desired, additional securing means might be provided.

As shown, all three yof the spacing heads 5', 6 and 7 have aXial passages through which light circuit wires and other leads might be brought into the casing.

In the drawings, we have ilustrated the casing above described as supported by a flexible tube much in the same manner as in our prior application and, hence, the lower head 5 is internally threaded to receive a coupling tube 11, which, by nutequipped bolts 12 and an exterior clamping band 13, is secured to t-he upper end of the flexible self-arighting supporting tube 14. The lower end portion of the coupling tube 11 is preferably rounded to prevent cutting of the tube 14 when the latter is bent, and the said rounded portion is perforated at 15 so that wires or cables containing the wires may be free to pass therethrough to the interior of the casing. The lower end of the flexible tube 14 may be anchored by any suitable means not necessary for the purposes of this case to consider, but which means, it may be stated, might be that disclosed and claimed in a companion application filed of even date herewith and entitled Anchoring base for traffic signals.

The upper end of the casing should, of course, be closed, and usually it is desirable that the same be provided with an elongated deine or upper end portion. As shown,

v this domelis in the vforni of a pyrainidal cap 16 `having a light opening 17, (usually covered byglass, not shown), and the u downturned 'flange ot u'fhich is secured to the casing by the saine upper boltsS that secure the plates l to the upper head 6.

That We claini is: l. A casing 'for a traffic signal of the char-v acter described, comprising side plates and spacing headsrigidly connecting said plates with the adjacent edges of said plates separated,y vand groovedy buffer strips vslid `ontoand intel-locked with the adjacent spaced edgesoll said :plates fand projecting beyond the outer faces of 4said-plates. f

2. The structure defi-ned in claim lin which the projecting edges oil said plates are of dove-'tailed forni" andengage correspond 4. Al easing for a traho signal of y'the char@ leter described,- coin'pris'ing four plates in rectangular arrangement with spaced adja cent edges, 'spacing heads vrigidly ysecured to said plates and holding the saine inthe ar-- rangement stated, and `bner 'strips slid onto and Iinterlocled with .the adjacent edges of said plates at the corners of the casing and*- projecting outward of said plates.

The ystructure defined vin claim 4 in vLeaaeae which said headset the cornerso'f-the casvportions of the buffer strips.

6. The 'structure defined in claim 4 in which said spacing heads are located, one at the lower end, one at the upper end and one at the zintermediate portion o1" the casing, the lower head being internally threaded for lengagement `with ka threaded icoupling` nienlber. l f Y The structure defined in claini l in Whiehone' of the spacing heads is located at the upper endvofthe casing, and in further combination with a doni'erapplied over the upper end of the Casing and secured -to said upper' head.

8. The structure' defined in claim 4 in Wliiehfone of thespacing heads is Ilocated at the upper end of the casing7 and in further combination with 'a doineapplied over the upperend of the casing ranfd secured to .said upp'er head, thesaid-doine'having lightpassages and' said heads having passages through which eircuit-.Wires'inay be passed.

9. A casing for tralicsignals `coinp'i-'ising side `plates inrect-angular arrangement, in

terior heads vto which said platesare secured,A

said plates having spaced edges projecting beyond said heads at the corners ofthe cas'- ing, and corner strips interlocled -to and projecting outward beyond the projecting edges of saidl plates.

In testimony whereof We allie; our signatures. g

z JOHN'RAN-K.

HENRY-VV. RANK. 

